Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club

Secluded Family-Friendly Resort and Golf Course Close to Orlando

Less than 2 miles from Walt Disney World® Theme Parks, a palm-flanked pool with a bubbling waterfall represents the day's last attraction—and this one doesn't require a 45-minute wait in line. The pool (one of four) belongs to Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, a family-friendly retreat situated a short shuttle ride from Walt Disney World® Theme Parks, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.

Furnished with plush couches, glass tables, and king- or queen-size beds, the resort's one- and two-bedroom villas feature fully appointed kitchens and large garden tubs whose serene water can eradicate any lingering vacation-based aches. The property's quartet of pools includes Dunes Lagoon, which boasts a two-story water slide and private cabanas where you can lounge and watch fellow guests dive, cannonball, and ride tractors into the water.

This deal includes passes to Wild Florida wildlife park, home to a number of native Florida species as well as zebras, water buffalo, and emu, as well as a number of tropical birds. You can touch and even feed some of the animals.

Located on the banks of Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee sits about 22 miles from downtown Orlando and just 16 miles from the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks. The world’s most-visited entertainment resort, it spans roughly 30,000 acres, encompassing four theme parks, two water parks, five golf courses, and the Downtown Disney® Area.

Sample Disney itinerary: board a rocket-shaped three-seater that climbs to 180 feet before entering a deep black tunnel and racing past stars, satellites, and constellations, walk across the park to sample Moroccan cuisine, or ride a dune buggy through a haunted 18th-century mansion.

Downtown Orlando arts district: Shake up the typical theme-park-dominated itinerary by visiting this neighborhood, which boasts venues such as the CityArts Factory, a multifaceted patchwork of gallery spaces, and SAK Comedy Lab, which holds improv shows five nights a week.